Rules & Resources
Consumer Magazine Support Center

Modification to Rule F 8.4 Subscriptions/Single-Copy Sales in Combination (Updated July 2004)

The ABC board of directors at their July 2004 board meeting made a change to Rule F 8.4 Subscriptions/Single Copy Sales in Combinations, (Effective Immediately) to allow in situations where a continuous service contract exists (automatic renewal via credit card or debit charge), publishers to “add-on” an additional magazine to the existing expiring term of a consumer’s service contract.

The add-on guidelines have been expanded to allow for the qualification of add-ons in a continuous service. The following conditions must be followed in order to qualify for reporting the added-on circulation as paid:

  1. Promotional materials shall not imply nor suggest that the magazine is “free” or “at no additional cost.”
  2. The amount being paid for all magazines involved in the combination must be at least a qualifying amount as defined by the publication’s paid circulation defined rules.
  3. The publisher is required to contact the consumer at least 30 days prior to the credit card being charged in which the communication must notify the subscriber of the following details:
    1. Name of magazines included in the renewal offer
    2. Duration of each subscription included
    3. Amount being charged for renewal offer
    4. Notification of terms of continuous service contract
    5. Information pertaining to how to cancel the subscription
  4. Subscribers must provide affirmative action to accept the add-on magazine. Those who do not provide affirmative action will continue with their original publication service.
Service of the added publication will be allowed to commence at the start of the next continuous service contract period.

In addition, full disclosure of all combination/add-on sales will be made in the explanatory paragraph. The disclosure will include the titles of other publications involved, publisher’s suggested prices of all publications included, term of offer and total selling prices.



Posted July 23, 2004